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QYesterday’s qualifying threw up some surprises, with Mercedes blocking the front row for the millionth time in the turbo-hybrid era, Lewis Hamilton biting Valtteri Bottas by less than a tenth, also for the millionth time in the era of the turbo hybrid. Here’s what the future seven-time F1 world champion had to say about his Saturday afternoon.
It’s a really challenging circuit and as you saw Valtteri was faster than me all day yesterday and even this morning, and even in Q1. I have worked really hard in the background to try to really improve my lines, improve my set-up and with the engineers we did a great job. The mechanics, as always, did an incredible job. I finally got the return I needed. In the end I think the wind picked up so I couldn’t go faster, but it was still a job done.
Bottas was hampered in the final races of Q3 by yellow flags caused by a spin Esteban Ocon. Hamilton couldn’t improve, which would have given the Finn a chance, but having to slow down ruined any chance he had to take advantage of it, which was a shame.
Further down the field, Red Bull blocked the second row with Max verstappen a respectable three-tenths behind with Alexander Albon his usual half a second slower than his teammate. Pierre Gasly, last week’s winner, was eliminated in Q3.
What will the race bring? Well, hopefully the action is better than expected as the track doesn’t look that good to overtake with these modern F1 cars. In any case, I’ll be here for the next few hours to explain everything to you.
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